Locking ring for metal containers



Oct. 20, 1942.

J.R.PROCTOR LOCKING RING FOR METAL CONTAINERS Filed April 4, 1939 I I II I I I I v I I I I I I I I I I I I I F 4 IN VENTOR. J0AW A. Pkacnw 9W4max ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers, andrelates more particularly' to an improved closure device for metalliccontainers to the end of efiecting a fluid tight seal between thecontainer and the closure member therefor.

A large variety of materials such as paints, chemicals and the like areshipped in metallic receptacles or containers which are provided withfull openings at their upper ends. These containers, which are of moreor less standard construction, are formed with an outwardly turnedannular bead at their open ends to provide for reinforcement of thecontainer as well as for receiving a metallic closure, the closurehaving an outwardly turned flange which partially encloses the annularbead. A split annular locking ring, which is semi-circular in transversesection, encloses the head of the container and the flange of theclosure, and as such locking ring is drawn together, a tight seal iseffected.

Many locking devices have been provided for drawing the ends of thislocking ring together, some of which have been satisfactory except thatthe mechanism is too complicated and expensive to construct. It is oneof the objects of the present invention to provide means for drawing theterminals of the locking ring together, which mechanism is easily andquickly actuated, and which will provide a highly effective seal betweenthe container and the closure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedlocking means for providing a relatively permanent seal prior to theoriginal opening of the container for the first removal of a portion ofthe contents, the closure likewise having means for permitting repeatedremoval of the cover and replacement thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a removable head formetallic barrels which will insure a substantially hermetic seal underconditions of severe usage during handling and shipment of thecontainer.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedlocking ring wherein each of the terminals of the ring are drawntogether with equal tension by the provision of an improved togglestructure.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel devicefor providing a fluid seal between the receptacle and cover thereforwithout the aid of tools.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of a metallic container, the viewshowing the locking ring constituting the present invention in placethereon;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig.1, a portion of the parts being broken away; and

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, which shows the locking element in unlockedposition.

The present invention is adapted to be used in connection with ametallic container or barrel of more or less standard construction, aportion of the barrel being shown at l0 and being provided with anoutwardly turned annular bead II which is substantially circular intransverse section. A cover member I2 is provided with an annularvertical flange l3 which terminates in a portion H which issubstantially semi-circular in transverse section. An annular gasket I6is usually placed upon the upper surface of the circular bead II, thisgasket being positioned between the bead and the semi-circular flangeportion M of the cover I2, all as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

- The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a splitannular locking ring l8 which is substantially semi-circular intransverse section, the ring being of such dimensions relative to thediameter of the container and closure therefor as to have its terminals[9 in substantial meeting engagement when the ring is locked in place,as shown in Fig. 4. The means for drawing the terminals of the lockingring into firm engagement with the container and the closure therefor isa toggle structure and comprises an arcuate locking member 2| formedwith a central outwardly disposed offset portion 22. This locking memberis substantially semicircular in transverse section, the upper marginaledge 2| preferably extending further inwardly than the lower edge 2|" asshown in Fig. 3. At a point spaced from but adjacent to each end of thelocking element, two substantially rectangular vertical notches 24 areformed, thus leaving a central vertical hinge element 25 there betweenas shown in Fig. 2. This hinge element is moved slightly inwardly asshown in Fig. 5 in order to keep the operative parts of the hinge withinthe interior of the locking element.

Adjacent to each terminal 19 of the locking ring an elongated slot 2'!is formed, each of said slots 21 likewise having a vertical hingeelement 28 adjacent to the terminals l9, also as clearly shown in Figs.2 and 5. A link 29 connects each hinge element 25 and 28, such linkbeing provided at one end with a shoulder 30, which terminates in acircular hinge member 3 l the member encircling the element 28. Theopposite end of each link is also formed with a circular hinge member 32which encircles the hinge element 25. In order to give the link membersa eater measure of stability, they are formed with flanges 33 alongtheir upper and lower edges.

When the terminals IQ of the locking ring are free from the influence ofthe locking member 2 I, such terminals are spaced sufflciently apart toreadily insert the locking ring over the flange ll" of the cover l2, allas shown in Fig. 5. When it i desired to lock the cover in firmengagement with the barrel, the locking member 2| is merely engaged atopposite ends and the same moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig.4. This inward movement of the locking member causes the link members 29to draw the terminals IQ of the locking ring together, the forces actingon the two terminal portions being substantially equal. When it isdesired to open the container, a screw driver or other instrument may beinserted under the locking member 2| and such member again brought tothe position shown in Fig. 5. In order to provide a firmer andrelatively permanent lock prior to the initial opening of the container,the upper flange 2| of the locking member'2l, which as previously statedextends further inwardly than the lower flange 2|", is provided withsemi-circular punched-in portions 34, as shown in Fig. 1, and when thecover is originally locked in place such punched-in portions engage theedge of the upper flange of the locking ring 18, all as shown in Figs. 1and 3.

By providing the offset portion 22 in the locking member 2|, there is nointerference between such locking member-and the hinge portions 30 atthe inner end of the links 29, and accordingly there is no rocking ofthe locking member 2| when in locking position, as shown in Fig. 4.

What I claim is:

1. A locking device of the character described comprising a split ringwhich is substantially semi-circular in transverse section, and togglemeans for moving the opposed terminals of the split ring intosubstantial meeting engagement, said means including a curved lockingplate provided with a hinge element at each end thereof, the ring havingan elongated recess adjacent to each end thereof, and being providedwith a hinge element between each terminal and the outer end of theslot, and links connecting the respective hinge elements at adjacentends of the plate and ring, each link comprising an elongated plateformed with ring portions at each end thereof receiving the hingeelements, each link being received in the elongated slot at each end ofthe ring when such plate is in locked position.

2. A locking device of the character described, for securing a flangedcover to a container formed with an annular flange extending around itsopen end, said device comprising a split ring which is substantiallysemi-circular in transverse section and which engages the annularflanges on the container and cover when in locked position, and togglemeans for moving the opposed terminals of the split ring intosubstantial meeting engagement to cause the cover to securely engage theopen end of the container, said means including a curved locking platehaving a plurality of spaced openings adjacent to each end thereof andforming a hinge element therebetween, the ring having an elongatedrecess adjacent to each end thereof; and being provided with a hingeelement between each terminal of the ring and the outer end of therecess, and links aaeaoss connecting the respective hinge elements atadjacent ends of the plate and ring, each link comprising an elongatedplate formed with ring portions at each end thereof receiving the hingeelements, each link being received in the elongated slot at each end ofthe ring when such plate is in locked position.

3. A locking device of the character described. for securing a flangedcover to a container formed with an annular flange extending around itsopen end, said device comprising a split ring which is substantiallysemi-circular in transverse section and which encloses the annularflanges on the container and cover when in locked position, and togglemeans for moving the opposed terminals of the split ring intosubstantial meeting engagement to cause the cover to securely engage theopen end of the container, said means including a curved locking platehaving a plurality of spaced openings adjacent to each end .thereof andforming hinge elements therebetween, such hinge elements lying insidethe outer surface of the plate, the ring having an elongated slotadjacent to each end thereof, and being provided with a hinge elementbetween each terminal of the ring and the outer end of the slot, andlinks connecting the respective hinge elements at adjacent ends of theplate and ring and exerting a substantially uniform thrust against eachterminal of the ring during locking movement thereof, each linkcomprising an elongated, flanged plate formed with ring portions at eachend thereof receiving the hinge elements, each link being received inthe elongated slot at each end of the ring when such plate is in lockedposition, thus allowing close engagement between the inner surface ofthe plate and the adjacent surface of the ring.

4. A locking device of the character described, for securing a flangedcover to a container formed with an annular flange extending around itsopen end, said device comprising a split ring which is substantiallysemi-circular in transverse section and which engages the annularflanges on the container and cover when in locked position, and togglemeans exerting a substantially uniform thrust against the opposedterminals of the split ring to move such terminals into substantialmeeting engagement and cause the cover to securely engage the open endof the container, said means including a curved locking plate having aplurality of spaced openings adjacent to each end thereof and forming ahinge element therebetween, the ring having an elongated slot adjacentto each end thereof, and being provided with a hinge element betweeneach terminal of the ring and the outer end of the slot, and linksconnecting the respective hinge elements at adjacent ends of the plateand ring, each link comprising an elongated plate formed with ringportions at each end thereof receiving the hinge elements, each linkbeing received in the elongated slot at each end of the ring when suchplate is in locked position, the center of the lockingplate being formedwith an outwardly projecting area to permit close engagement betweensuch plate and the ring in the location of the hinge elements at theterminals of the ring.

JOHN R. PROCTOR.

